New to us 2004 XC70 with coolant in the oil. Likely head gasket, do I need to look out for anything else?

[777funk]

I would do a compression test to see if there are any very low cylinders. If very low test, you might not want to bother with a tear down.
volvolugnut

I had a few cylinders that were around 85 psi. I also did a leak down test and these low compression cylinders leak compressed air, into the coolant as can be seen in my video.

[jonesg]

thar she blows.

[dikidera]

Hey OP, what is the engine on this XC70?

[777funk]

Hey OP, what is the engine on this XC70?

2.5L L5 (B5254T2)

[dikidera]

Oh...well I hope you don't have a cracked cylinder wall there. Once the head is off do examine the cylinder walls at the top and look for cracks. If it's just a head gasket you would be very lucky.

[abscate]

I’ve got a 2002 good engine sitting up in NY if you ever drive by….

[scot850]

There is someone local to me trying to sell an 07 XC70 with a coolant leak. My first thought was a possible damaged cylinder or cracked block. Is that a P2 thing? I nearly bought a XC90 with the 2.5T motor from a Volvo dealer but during their inspection they found a cracked block. They couldn't understand why I walked away when they fitted a used engine with higher miles................!

Hopefully in this case it is a cylinder head gasket, but I would also look at the oil cooler for internal leak.

Neil.

[dikidera]

There is someone local to me trying to sell an 07 XC70 with a coolant leak. My first thought was a possible damaged cylinder or cracked block. Is that a P2 thing? I nearly bought a XC90 with the 2.5T motor from a Volvo dealer but during their inspection they found a cracked block. They couldn't understand why I walked away when they fitted a used engine with higher miles................!

Hopefully in this case it is a cylinder head gasket, but I would also look at the oil cooler for internal leak.

Neil.

I mean I thought it was common knowledge that the cylinder walls are thin and coupled with an open-deck design lead to cracked cylinder walls especially if you WOT it each day for a long period of time.
And while the 2.4t is nearly the same with the difference being crank throw, it's almost like it doesn't happen as often.
https://www.swedespeed.com/threads/new- ... t2.594495/
My little pet theory and this is based on no engine theory whatsoever, is that the extra stroke causes the top part of the cylinder wall to take the brunt of the cylinder pressure during compression stroke and power strokes.
A little fun thing to think about is if you could destroke the 83mm bore engines far enough, you might be able to have 1000hp motors and not crack, but obviously such a motor will have less torque.

However what truly boggles my mind is how the VEA engines are only 82mm bore, and yet look at the B4204T43, a turbocharged engine with output of 360hp and you don't hear these cracking. Or maybe some have I just don't know.
Or the B4204T9, 300hp, HIGH compression of 10.3, big stroke etc and yet...these don't seem to crack.

[jimmy57]

It is simple to detect oil cooler problem. It also has the greatest chance with that much oil going to cooling system but no loss of coolant or coolant in exhaust. Remove the two hoses to the cooler and connect them to each other with 5/8 inch hose nipple you can find in an auto store. You an do some flushing while those hoses are disconnected to reduce the oil in coolant. Cascade dishwasher soap is a great cooling system oil cleaner. For this task you can't use a foaming soap cleaner, dishawasher soaps are great as degreaser and specifically non-foaming or it would spill foam out on your floor. With the hoses bypassed go drive and see if the oil comes back.

[777funk]

It is simple to detect oil cooler problem. It also has the greatest chance with that much oil going to cooling system but no loss of coolant or coolant in exhaust. Remove the two hoses to the cooler and connect them to each other with 5/8 inch hose nipple you can find in an auto store. You an do some flushing while those hoses are disconnected to reduce the oil in coolant. Cascade dishwasher soap is a great cooling system oil cleaner. For this task you can't use a foaming soap cleaner, dishawasher soaps are great as degreaser and specifically non-foaming or it would spill foam out on your floor. With the hoses bypassed go drive and see if the oil comes back.

In this case, coolant is in the oil (and not oil in the coolant). There is a head breach (gasket, block, or head) as has been determined and can be seen in the video I had posted. It's in at least 2 or 3 cylinders. It isn't in cyl 1 and may not be in cyl 5. I believe all 3 middle cylinders leak. Will know more once we have the head off.